LONDON (Kyodo) -- Japan men's national football team players Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate found the net for Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic in a 4-0 win at home to Motherwell on Thursday.

The hosts took the lead in first-half injury time at Glasgow's Celtic Park when Arne Engels slotted a penalty given away by Motherwell keeper Aston Oxborough.

After having an earlier attempt blocked by Oxborough, Maeda doubled the margin when he rocketed a header into the back of the net in the 57th minute.

Nicolas Kuehn added a third before second-half substitute Hatate completed the scoring by firing low into the corner with nine minutes left in regulation.

The result moved Brendan Rodgers' undefeated side to 47 points, 12 clear of their arch-rivals Rangers, after 17 games. Celtic will host St. Johnstone on Sunday before playing away to Rangers in the Old Firm derby on Jan. 2.